By: Betsy Robertson, American Red Cross

Springtime in the Pacific Northwest is rarely more picturesque than it was on March 29, 2025, near La Conner, Washington, where members of the American Red Cross gathered in partnership with the Swinomish Indian Tribe.  

The morning started with a traditional prayer and welcome sung by Tribal Senator Aurelia Bailey. Her words and voice set the tone for the day, one of shared purpose, community, and safety, specifically against the risk of wildfires.   

“There’s a lot of open space, there’s a lot of brush, there’s a lot of… ‘one spark could lead to the whole village,’ said Elizabeth Miller, Housing Development Manager for the Swinomish Tribe. “So, we’re trying to look at that as a whole and do some mitigation efforts as a tribe and as a community.”   

During this Saturday event, mitigation efforts included fire wise assessments around 23 homes, with safety teams that included both Red Cross volunteers and tribal community members. Keri Cleary, Swinomish Tribe Interim Emergency Manager, says the tribe has plans to continue doing outreach like this year-round.   

“We’re helping to educate homeowners on ways they can stay safe, things they can do, things they may need help doing, just that maintenance that people don’t necessarily know they need that helps prevent fires,” Cleary said.  

The climate crisis is contributing to an increased risk of wildfires in our region every year. We now know the threat isn’t limited to land east of the Cascade mountains. Fire can strike anywhere there is fuel to burn and take off into rural and urban communities without discretion. That’s why the Red Cross is actively seeking partners and planning wildfire safety events like this one throughout Washington State and beyond.   

“We need to make sure we are delivering services equitably throughout our chapter area. Having the support of the Swinomish Tribal Community for a lifesaving program like this makes all the difference,” said Alex Newman, executive director of the local Red Cross chapter.   

The opportunity presented by partnership is something Newman, Miller and Cleary agree on.   

“We decided a couple of years ago, under the direction of Tribal Senate to completely redo how we do emergency preparedness for the tribe and emergency management. We have a much greater focus on community preparedness,” said Cleary.   

Sally Wilbur is a Tribal Community member and one of 70 made safer by the event on March 29. Her family is very aware of the wildfire threat where they live and appreciative of the Tribe’s focus on safety.   

“They’re very good about handing out whatever supplies we need as a community to keep our community safe and free from fire,” she said.   

Wilbur also appreciated the information received during her home’s fire wise assessment and the important reminders given.  

“We kind of forget what we need to do until it’s too late sometimes,” she said. “So just being aware, prepared and reminded what’s safe and what’s not, is a huge help.”   

The Swinomish Tribe is committed to keeping the momentum going. Wildfire risk mitigation is a key focus for their emergency management plan moving forward. Using some of the information gathered at the March preparedness event, two community-wide clean-up days will take place later in the year.   

As for the Red Cross and efforts to expand the work into more areas and support the region becoming more resilient, Newman says he is always looking for new opportunities: “I hope to continue to grow this relationship and work with more tribal communities and partner organizations throughout the area.”

The Red Cross wants to help your community prepare for wildfires. We are working with organizations throughout our region to host free wildfire safety events, where Red Cross teams provide personalized tips and guidance on how to better protect homes and communities with defensible space.